Pump



Dec. 17, 1946. c. ELLIOTT 2,412,723

PUMP

Filed Aug. 20, 1945.

' INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 17, 1946 v u t PATENT OFFICE PUMP Charl es s nce, Carthage, Mo.

Application August 20, 1945, Serial No. 611,556

3 cla s. (or. 103-241) This. in nt n relates to ump esi ne pr marily for lifting fluids from wellsyone of the objects being to utilize air under pressure as theiorcing medium whilethe liquid inthe well serves as a means for controlling certain electric circuits, wherebythe proper actuation of the pump is effected.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter more fully described and pointed outin the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, the complete apparatus has been shown in a singlefigure partly in section and partly in diagram, a portion-being broken away.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, W designates a well which can beprovided with the usual casing land cap 2. EX tending through the cap and downwardly within the well to a desired depth is an outflow; pipe 3,

which is normally closed by check valve l adap .1

ed" to permit the inflow of liquid, butto prevent return flow thereof. This check valve can (be removed from the pump through the outflow pipe for repair, if necessary. In the structure illustrated, the outflow pipe is provided, at a min ou d of t l w t an a r c amber Band with a pressure controlled switch 5 receiving pressure from the pipe. Switches of this type are so well known that it has not been deemed necessary to show or describe the same in detail. It is merely necessary to state th at when the pressure in the pipe rises to a predetermined point, the switch will open but at other times the switch will be closed.

The lower portion of the outflow pipe 3 is housed within a cylinder 1, the lower end of which is closed by a lift valve 8 adapted to close under downward pressure but to open under upward pressure. This lift valve or foot valve is protected by a screen 9 secured to the lower end of the cylinder and extending under the valve.

Opening into the upper endof the cylinder 1 is an air input pipelfl, while an air outlet pipe II also opens into the upperportion of the cylinder. .Both of these pipes 10 and H extend through the cap 2 and tube has an electrode l2 supported therein and insulated therefrom. The free end of this electrode 'isi'suspn'cled in the cylinder? close to the top thereof while the 2 other or upper end of the electrode is mounted in a sealed cap l3 secured in the upper end of pipe H. An outflow arm i4 extends from the upper portion of the pipe H and is controlledby an exhaust valve 15 adapted to be operated electrically.

Another electrode i6 is supported within the pipe l0 and is extended downwardly within cylinder '1 to a point adjacent to the bottom thereof. This electrode, like the electrode I2, is covered with insulation except at the lower or tip end.

The upper end of electrode I6 is soured within a sealing cap I? in the upper end of pipe 10 and adjacent to this upper end said pipe is formed with an extension i8 leading to an air compressor iii which has been indicated in diagram in the drawing and can be of any desired construction. An electrically operated intake valve 26 is mounted in theextension l8 and can be of any suitable construction. Said extension is also provided with a pressure regulator 2i of any preferred construction.

The electrical circuit forming a part of the pump has been shown in diagram in the drawing. It includes a lever 22 of insulating material which is held normally in one position by spring 23. In the drawing this lever has been shown in an intermediate position which it would occupy only momentarily. The lever carries the armature 24 of an electromagnet E5. The lever also carries separate contacts 25 and 2? each extending toward fixed contacts arranged in pairs; the contacts of one pair being indicated at 28 and 29 and the contacts of the other pair being indicated at 30 and 3|. Another movable contact 32 is supported at the opposite side of the lever 22 and is adapted, under certain conditions, to engage spaced contacts 33 and 34.

One of the main leads of [the circuit has been indicated at' 35 a'nd'is electrically connected through one side of a transformer 36 teens ter'.

minal of valve E5, to contact 3!, and meager the terminals of the switch 6. Lead 35 is also electrically connected to contact 3 3. i a

The other side of the transformer 36 has a grounded terminal and is an electrically connected to one terminal of the electromagnet 25. The other terminal of the electromagnet is electrically connected to the contact 28 and to the electrode l2.' r Contact 34 is electrically connected tothe second terminal of exhaust valve l5: bontactidis electricallyfconnected to eleotrode" 11 a and conof the valve 20. The second terminal of the pressure control switch is electrically connected to the other main lead of the circuit, indicated at 31.

It is to be understood that cylinder I is to be submerged in the liquid in the well where it will fill through the valve 8 which will open under pressure from below. The liquid in the cylinder serves to close a, circuit between the cylinder or ground and the electrode l2, and this circuit is maintained by electrode l6 and the cylinder or ground after the liquid leaves the electrode [2, and until the liquid leaves electrode it. By thus closing the circuit, th air intake valve is actualted so that air from the compressor thus is admitted through the pipe Ill and operates to expell liquid through the outflow pipe 3. When the circuit is broken by the descent of water or other fluid within the cylinder, said circuit is maintained due to the contact of the fluid with the cylinder '5 which, of course, is grounded through "This results in breaking the circuit to- {the valve 20 so that air under pressure is shut oii and at "the same time the circuit to the valve i5 is closed so that said valve is opened and air can escape from the cylinder. Thus fluid can again :rise by its own weight within the cylinders 1 until electrode i2 is contacted thereby, whereupon the foregoing operation will be repeated.

way of the grounded cylinder, the first named electrode and the fluid therebetween, an electrically opened air exhaust valve in a circuit controlled by said means, air forcing means, a connection therefrom to the air inflow pipe,-an electrically closed valve in said connection, said electromagnet being de-energized by the fall of fluid from contact with both electrodes, and means released by the magnet when de-energized for opening the exhaust valve and closing the valve in said connection.

2. In a pump a cylinder to be suspended in .fluid to be displaced, said cylinder having a valved intake at its lower end, an air inlet pipe and an air outflow pipe opening into the other end of the cylinder, a fluid outflow pipe leadin from the cylinder and having a valved inlet adjacent to the inlet of the cylinder, an electrode having an exposed end in the lower portion of the cylinder, thefluid in the cylinder at and'above the exposed end of the electrode constituting means for grounding said electrode to the cylinder, a second electrode having an exposed end in the upper end of the cylinder for contact by the fluid when the cylinder is full, an electromagnet in circuit with the electrodes, means controlled by the electromagnet when energized for maintaining a grounded circuit through said magnet by way of the grounded cylinder, the first named It will be obvious that when the pressure in the pipe 3 reaches the predetermined point, the switch 6 will act to break the circuit and will remain at this pressure until water is drawn 011 from the outflow pipe. The switch 6 is used to break the circuit when the pump is not in use.

The various electrically operated valves can be of standard construction and for that reason it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate or describe them in detail.

It is to be understood that an air vent 38 can'be extended from the cap 2 so as to allow the fluid [to rise freely within the well so as to maintain the cylinder 1 submerged.

though it has been preferredheretofore to place both electrodes in the .two air tubes, it is to be understood that, if desired, both electrodes could be put in one tube only although their relative lengths will be the same.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pump a cylinder to be suspended in .fluid to be displaced, said cylinder having a valved intake at its lower end, an air inlet pipe and an air outflow pipe opening into the other end of the cylinder, a fluid overflow pipe leading from the cylinder and having a valved inlet adjacent to the inlet of the cylinder, an electrode having an exposed end in the lower portion of the cylinder, the fluid in the cylinder at and above the exposed end of the electrode constituting means for grounding said electrode to the cylinder, a second electrode having an exposed end in the upper end of the cylinder for contact by the fluid when the cylinder is full, an electromagnet in circuit with the electrodes, means controlled by the electromagnet when energized for maintaining a grounded circuit through said magnet by for opening the exhaust valve and closing the.

valve in said connection, a' pressure control means in communication with the fluid outflow pipe, and means controlled thereby for de-energizing the electromagnet.

3. In a pump a cylinder to be suspended in.

- fluid to be displaced, said cylinder having a valved intake at its lower end, an air inlet pipe and an air outflow pipe opening into the other end of the cylinder, a fluid outflow pipe leading from the cylinder and having a valved inlet adjacent to the inlet of the cylinder, an electrode having an exposed end in the lower portion of the cylinder, the fluid in the cylinder at and above the exposed end of the electrode constituting means for grounding said electrode to the cylinder, a sec- 1 ond electrode having an exposed end in the upper end of the cylinder for contact by the fluid when the cylinder is full, an electromagnet in circuit with the electrodes, means controlledby the electromagnet when energized for maintaining a r grounded circuit through said magnet by way of the grounded cylinder, the first named electrode and the fluid therebetween, an electrically opened air exhaust valve in acircuit controlled by said means, air forcing means, a connection there-' from to the air inflow pipe, an electrically'closed valve in said connection, said electromagnet be ing de-energized by the fall of fiuid from contact with both electrodes, and means released by the. magnet when de-energized for opening'theexhaust valve and closing the-valve in said connec- 

